Near Lanba Academy, at a rather luxurious mansion.
After Tang San finished adding some content to the draft of the research paper, he came here together with Tang Hao.
Tai Tan of the Strength Clan was temporarily staying here.
"After Tai Tan met me before, he wanted me to live here, but I refused. I hope he's still here now."
At the entrance of the mansion, Tang Hao explained to Tang San.
Soon, they were stopped outside by the guards.
"Tell Tai Tan that an old acquaintance wishes to see him."
Both Tang Hao and Tang San were wrapped in black cloaks covering their entire bodies, which immediately made the guards feel uneasy.
People dressed like that certainly didn't look like good characters.
However, the guards still maintained good professional conduct and went inside to report.
Before long, at the entrance of the mansion—
A burly old man saw the familiar figure and instantly burst into tears.
"Master!"
The way Tai Tan addressed Tang Hao shocked Tang San.
Soon, under Tai Tan's enthusiastic invitation, Tang Hao and Tang San entered the mansion.
"Tai Tan once taught me forging techniques. He is one of the top three blacksmiths on the continent. Even I was deeply influenced by him, which is why I chose soul rings that all enhance strength attributes. When I came of age, Tai Tan recognized me as his master."
After they entered the mansion, Tang Hao explained the situation to Tang San.
Hearing Tang Hao praise him like this, Tai Tan's wrinkled face nearly folded into layers from smiling, and his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Oh, not at all, Master. And this is…?"
Tai Tan asked with a smile.
"My son, Tang San. Twin martial souls—Blue Silver Emperor and Clear Sky Hammer. The first soul ring of his Clear Sky Hammer comes from a 50,000-year Earth Bear."
Tang Hao introduced proudly.
Tai Tan's eyes instantly lit up.
"So this is the Young Master…"
When Tai Tan heard that Tang San's second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, had its first soul ring from such a heaven-defying 50,000-year soul beast, the strength-worshipping old man nearly felt like acknowledging a new master on the spot.
"Uh… Senior Tai Tan, please teach me forging in the future."
Tang San still felt somewhat awkward.
"Young Master, say no more. This old servant will do everything in his power."
Tai Tan had already completely submitted to Tang San's potential.
"Alright, Tai Tan. I came here this time to reclaim the Four Great Clans."
Tang Hao interrupted Tai Tan's overly fawning behavior and directly stated the real purpose.
After some discussion, Tai Tan's expression turned serious.
"Master, Bai Chenxiang of the Agility Clan is currently studying at Lanba Academy together with Tailong of our clan. I'll send someone to notify her immediately."
"Good."
Although Tang Hao didn't know who Bai Chenxiang was, this at least allowed him to establish contact with two clans.
Meanwhile, while Dugu Bo and Tang Hao were taking action…
Yu Xiaogang had already received an invitation from Spirit Hall.
When he realized that the situation in Heaven Dou City was turning bad, Yu Xiaogang had already left early and found himself a new backer.
That backer was Spirit Hall.
It was a choice made out of necessity.
Yu Xiaogang believed that only Spirit Hall could protect him now. Moreover, if he wanted to prove himself in front of Xiao Lin, he could only rely on the talented students of Spirit Hall Academy.
People like Dai Mubai were simply too young.
When Yu Xiaogang thought about this, he completely forgot the age of Xiao Lin and the others.
But now, despite receiving Spirit Hall's invitation, Yu Xiaogang was far from happy.
Because the members of Spirit Hall didn't treat him like a "Master" at all.
Instead, they tied him up and hung him horizontally behind a horse.
Yu Xiaogang had never endured such intense "exercise" in his life.
Even lying on a horse's back would make him vomit.
"Ugh—"
Before long, Yu Xiaogang vomited out something indescribable.
This made the Spirit Hall member escorting him look at him with even greater contempt.
The Spirit Hall soldier sitting on the horse in front glanced back slightly with disdain.
Yu Xiaogang noticed the look immediately.
His mentality collapsed on the spot.
What kind of trash dares to look down on this Master?!
This Master was personally acknowledged and invited by the Pope!
Even now, Yu Xiaogang still couldn't understand Bibi Dong's true attitude toward him.
He still believed that she admired him the same way she once did.
Damn it! When I arrive at Spirit City, I'll report you to Bibi Dong!
Yu Xiaogang's hatred surged.
After being influenced by dark forces, Yu Xiaogang would often become restless, overheated, and filled with destructive urges whenever even a little resentment appeared.
This was true toward the Spirit Hall soldier.
But toward Xiao Lin and the others, his hatred was even deeper.
Xiao Lin… I'll make you regret it.
During the academy tournament, the elite students I train at Spirit Hall Academy will defeat you.
Then you'll regret rejecting my invitation six years ago.
Although Yu Xiaogang hated Xiao Lin and the others, the revenge he imagined was extremely childish.
Like the thoughts of someone whose brain had never fully developed.
"Stay still."
The Spirit Hall soldier felt Yu Xiaogang squirming on his back and immediately shouted sternly.
You…!
Yu Xiaogang was provoked again.
His body trembled as if he were having a fit, while his eyes glared fiercely at the soldier's back, trying to kill him with his gaze.
But to others, Yu Xiaogang only looked like a fool who couldn't take care of himself.
The Spirit Hall soldier was speechless.
He couldn't understand why the powerful, beautiful, and kind Pope would personally send people to invite such a useless man.
If it weren't for the Pope's orders, he would have beaten this waste half to death and sold him back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
But thinking about it gave him an idea.
Soon, he steered the horse onto a deserted side road.
Then the Spirit Hall soldier turned around with a sinister grin.
"I told you to behave, but you kept squirming like a lunatic. Do you really think you're some Master?"
The soldier cracked his knuckles.
Seeing fear finally appear in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, he threw a heavy punch.
The punch landed directly on Yu Xiaogang's face.
Yu Xiaogang instantly exploded with rage. The evil energy inside him stirred his soul power.
He was going to fight back.
"Luo Sanpao, attack!"
"Smack!"
Before Yu Xiaogang even finished speaking, the soldier's slap struck his thick face first.
"Oh? Attack? Using your martial soul?"
The soldier suddenly felt anger rising when he saw Yu Xiaogang's punchable face.
He decided to give him a proper lesson.
And he would make sure the Pope would never notice.
After beating him severely, he could simply heal Yu Xiaogang with healing soul skills.
"You summoned your martial soul first."
"Martial Soul — Withered Vine."
In the next second, a whip made of dry thorny vines appeared in the soldier's hand.
If one looked carefully, the whip was covered with barbs and faint purple poisonous soul power.
"Heh… thanks to you, my martial soul absorbed a poisonous soul ring. Now I'm stuck at Level 39 and can't break through to Soul Ancestor. That's your fault."
The soldier looked at the whip in his hand.
His resentment toward Yu Xiaogang suddenly surged.
Back when Yu Xiaogang published his Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls theory, this soldier had believed him and absorbed a poisonous snake-type soul ring.
Now he couldn't break through to the next rank, so he blamed Yu Xiaogang entirely.
"Crack!"
The vine whip suddenly struck Yu Xiaogang.
"AAAH—!"
With the martial soul enhancement added, Yu Xiaogang couldn't endure it at all.
The moment the whip landed, he let out a miserable scream.
But his screams only made the soldier feel even more satisfied.
The whipping became even harsher.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
A deadly chain of lightning-fast whip strikes!
Before long, the deserted path was filled with the sharp cracking sounds of the whip and screams like a pig being slaughtered.
"Stop! I'm a Master!"
"Help!"
"I—"
"AAAH—please stop hitting me!"
(End of Chapter)